I continue to send media inquiries to the Toronto Star because they published a four page article, A Toronto imam was accused of hate-preaching against Jews. But that wasn’t the whole story:
that whitewashed Ayman Elkasrawy, an imam at “Masjid Toronto” mosque, of his views on Jews and Israel in order to treat him as a victim of mistranslation and manipulation. The article appears to be an attempt to exonerate him of anti-Jewish and anti-infidel prayers during Ramadan 2016.

The article focused on Elkasrawy’s “outreach to the Jewish community to educate himself and learn from his mistakes.”

The reporter also wrote “he also realized he had made serious mistakes, for which he needed to apologize.”

“Neither I, Masjid Toronto or the congregation harbour any form of hate towards Jews.”

And according to Yang, Elkasrawy just “made hurtful mistakes that he could not adequately explain.” And Elkasrawy himself said

“I’m not so good at being social. The more you talk, the more you make mistakes.”

Yang, the reporter, and English the public editor, appear to have missed his social media posts which paint a different picture.

Honest Reporting Canada also reached out to the Toronto Star, Kathy English the public editor. On October 30, 2017 the Toronto Star’s Public Editor, Kathy English, told Honest Reporting Canada that “the reporters [Jennifer Yang] and her editors put an immense amount of thought and consideration into this piece.”

But, the article is filled with errors in fact and gross omission of facts pertinent to the Imam’s views.

Here is some background. And then I will focus on Elkasrawy’s views on Hamas which were sent to The Toronto Star in the form of a media inquiry. I sent a similar inquiry to Elkaswary with the following questions:

Please explain why did you share and post the Facebook posts and tweets mentioned in the article?

You stated: “I have nothing to hide”. Why did you change on August 6, 2018 the status of your tweets into “protected” which means that only your 40 (forty) followers can have access to read them?

Why did you remove on August 6, 2018 all Likes from your YouTube Channel?

And heard nothing.

Jennifer Yang, The Toronto Star reporter, contacted Lt. Col (Ret.). He replied July 25 2017, three months before the article was published.

“Ayman Elkasrawy’s posts on social media may help you a great deal in your research.”

Yang wrote in her article: “Elkasrawy says he agreed to speak with the Star because “I have nothing to hide.”

Yang DID NOT publish any information from Elkasrawy’s social media posts. She also DID NOT tell the readers that Jonathan Halevi recommended that she look into Elkasrawy’s social media posts.

“Why?” is my question.

Here are some of Elkasrawy’s statements on Facebook that are about Hamas. His Facebook posts on Hamas and al-Qassam Brigades are available here.

December 19, 2016 – Ayman Elkasrawy shared ‎شبكة قدس الإخبارية‎‘s video on Mohammed Zawari adding the following comment (originally in Arabic): “A real hero and a great loss… We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return… May Allah have mercy on his soul and accept him as a martyr.”

Zawari was an operative of Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades (Canada-designated terrorist organization) who supervised its drone program. In December 2016 he was gunned down near the city of Sfax, Tunisia. Hamas blames Israel for killing of its drone expert.

Hamas is designated by Canada as a terrorist entity since November 27, 2002. According to Public Safety Canada: “Hamas, the Arabic acronym for the group Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamiya, is a radical Islamist-nationalist terrorist organization that emerged from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987. It uses political and violent means to pursue its goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel. Since 1990, Hamas has been responsible for several hundred terrorist attacks against both civilian and military targets. Hamas has been one of the primary groups involved in suicide bombings aimed at Israelis since the start of the Al-Aqsa intifada in September 2000. In 2006, Hamas participated in and won Palestinian parliamentary elections, leading to negotiations between the group and the Palestinian Authority over the establishment of a unity government. In 2007, however, Hamas overthrew the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip and seized power of the coastal territory. Although the group’s political leadership resides in Damascus, Hamas uses the Gaza Strip as a base for terrorist operations aimed against Israel.”

July 27, 2016– Ayman Elkasrawy posted in relation to a post on Mohammed Faqih the following (originally in Arabic): “May Allah accept him as a martyr at uppermost heaven.”

Mohammed Faqih was an operative of Hama’s al-Qassam Brigades, who murdered (July 1, 2016) Israeli Rabbi Miki Mark and later was killed after he opened fire at Israeli troops who surrounded the house in which he was hiding. Hamas is designated by Canada as a terrorist entity since November 27, 2002.

“The Hamas Movement has mourned the death of 29-year-old Mohamed al-Faqih, who carried out in early July a heroic shooting attack near Otniel settlement, calling him one of the bravest members of its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades. Faqih was killed at dawn Wednesday during armed clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Surif, north of al-Khalil. “The brave martyr, al-Faqih, was one of Palestine’s finest sons and noted prisoners [in Israeli jails], who served their homeland and their cause,” Hamas stated. The Movement also hailed the martyr for the great sacrifices he made for the dignity of his people, and saluted the residents of Surif town for their steadfastness in the face of the occupation and its troops. The Movement renewed its vow to uphold the path of martyrs and noble fighters, and to continue making precious sacrifices for Palestine, its people and holy sites.”

April 1, 2016 – Ayman Elkasrawy shared a post stating the following (originally in Arabic]: [Hamas’] al-Qassam Brigades [Canada-designated terrorist entity] publish for the first time the pictures of the four soldiers of the occupation who are being held prisoners by it. May Allah bless the factory of men #Hamas and bless in its jihad. # We are proud of you.” Elkasrawy added (originaly in Arabic): “Be aware, and have a doubt [meaning Hamas message keeps Israel in the dark with regard to the fate of the four soldiers]” accompanied with a laughing emoticon sticker.

More Background information on Hamas and its al-Qassam Brigades

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya Reaffirms Hamas’ Commitment to Armed Resistance and Says: We Will Liberate Palestine in Its Entirety, from the Mediterranean to the Jordan River

Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on December 14, 2011:

Ismail Haniya:

This is the message of Hamas. This is the identity of Hamas. This is the very being of Hamas. Today, Hamas marches along parallel tracks: the track of da’wa and education, the track of resistance and Jihad, and the track of rule and of politics. This is the best response to those who think to themselves, or imagine, that Hamas has withdrawn from the line of resistance, and has withdrawn from the confrontation with this enemy.

Today, we say, in a clear and unambiguous fashion: The armed resistance and armed struggle are our strategic choice and our path to liberate the Palestinian land, from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River, and to drive the usurping invaders out of the blessed land of Palestine.

The Hamas movement, which was born in the first Intifada, and lived through the second Intifada, with the grace of Allah, and with the help of this people and all its free man, and with the strong-willed resistance factions of the people, will continue to lead one Intifada after the other, until we liberate Palestine in its entirety, Allah willing…

Jerusalem is Palestinian, Arab, and Islamic. I don’t mean only East Jerusalem. Jerusalem in its entirety is the capital of the state of Palestine, Allah willing.

Therefore, in an effort to strengthen the bond of the Islamic nation and the capitals of the Arab revolution to Jerusalem and to Al-Aqsa, we issue a call from this place, from the heart of glorious Gaza, from Jerusalem and its environs to establish the “Army of Jerusalem” in the Arab capitals and the capitals of the revolution, in order to take action to liberate Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa, Allah willing…

The principles [of Hamas] are definitive and non-negotiable: Palestine means Palestine in its entirety, from the River to the Sea. There will be no concession of a single inch of the land of Palestine… We will work with our people with regard to the things upon which we agree politically, and we will exert all our efforts and our power of resistance to achieve this common goal. However, we maintain two conditions – as I am sure do many of our people, as well as the factions of the mujahideen and the resistance: first, that we will not concede a single inch of the land of Palestine, and second, that we will not recognize Israel.

Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad: The Americans and the Jews Are Abhorred Worldwide; The Americans Are Led by the Jews, “Outcasts Who Live Off Corruption and Plundering”

Following are excerpts from an interview with Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on December 14, 2010:

Fathi Hammad:

The Jews have become abhorred and loathed outcasts, because they live off corruption and the plundering of the peoples – not only the Arab and Islamic peoples, but all the peoples of the world. The world has begun to be aware of this corrupting danger, and to applaud Hamas. The entire world says: “Bravo, Hamas, for confronting these people pf corruption.” Whenever we score a goal, by achieving something against the Jews, the world applauds us. When we are playing, the entire world supports us.

Therefore, I expect that in the future, support for Hamas will grow. I also expect that in addition to the aid convoys, Hamas will get some “heavy stuff,” which will help it be victorious. Hamas will receive its means of survival, its arms, and its supporters from where it is lease expected, because the hatred for the Jews is on the rise, and people who hate the Jews find no [other] way to fulfill their hatred of the Jews and of the Americans – the Americans too have become abhorred throughout the world, because of their corruption, for they are led by the Jews – and they will support us.

Former Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad: We Will Annihilate the Brothers of Apes and Pigs

Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by former Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad, which aired on Al-Jazeera Network on October 31, 2014:

Fathi Hammad:

We say to the brothers of apes and pigs: No matter how much you destroy, dig, and try to build settlements around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, we are coming to uproot you, to annihilate you, and to destroy you…

The hypocrites will find themselves in the lowest level of Hellfire. Whoever shackles his people and their resistance, whoever shackles the AK-47s, will be trampled under the feet of our people in this world, and will find himself in the lowest level of Hellfire in the world to come.

Here are some questions I asked of John Boynton, Bob Hepburn, Kathy English and Jennifer Yang: